Can-heating retort.



D. A. MclNTOSH.

CAN HEATING RETORT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.25| 1915.

1 1 5 1,1 1 1 Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

D. A. IVICINTOSH.

CAN HEATING RETORT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.25, 1915.

Patented Aug. 24; 1915 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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DAVID A. MOINTOSH, 0F VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO BURPEE AND LETSON, LIMITED, OF SOUTH BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON.

CAN-HEATING RETORT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 2%, 1915.

Application filed March 25, 1915. Serial No. 16,981.

-T011ZZ 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAvID A. MCIN'rosH, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Heating Retorts, of which. the followin is a specification.

%his invention relates to a means for moving cans through a container orretort, such as is used for exhausting the air from or for cooking the contents of the cans.

It constitutes an improvement on that class wherein the cans are moved along helical tracks disposed about a" vertical axis within the retort by means of a rotatable frame in engagement with the cans on the jacent the upper end track, and the improvements are directed to an enlargement in the treating capacity of the retort, by providing concentric helical tracks, the coil pitch of which is oppositely angled that the cans after slowly moving from end to end of the retort on one track, may cross over onto the other and return.

The invention. comprises the manner of supporting, centering, and driving the rotatable member which moves the cans along both tracks and to the means for transferring the cans from one track to the other at one end.

The invention also includes incidental features of construction to which attention will be drawn in the following specification,

which fully describes the device, reference" being made to the drawings by which it is accompanied, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the retort at aa in Fig. 2. Fig. 2, a sectional lan of the same. Fig. 3, an enlarged vertical section of one side of the retort on the line ab in Fig. 2 showing the can inlet and cross-over and themanner of supporting the can moving cylinder. Fig. l, a similar section of the lower end on the line cc in Fig. 2, showing the manner of driving the can moving cylinder. Fig. 5, a similar view of the centering roller of the can moving cylinder being a section on the line (Z-d in Fig.2. Fig. 6 is asectional plan adjacent the roller and lower guard ring. Fig. 7 shows in plan the cross-over where the cans are transferred from one track to the other adof the retort. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the T-members and a lower end showing the centering portion of the cylinder hereinafter referred to. i

In these drawings 2 and 3 represent respectively inner and outer stationary cylinders which are concentric with one another and have helical can tracks 1 and 5 projectmg toward one another from their adjacent sides. These helical tracks 1 and 5 are coiled at an oppositely angled pitch so that the same direction of movement, which will carry the cans along the track -l from the lower end to the top of the retort will on the other track 5 carry the same down again to the bottom.

A can moving cylinder 6 is rotatably mounted intermediate of the stationary track cylinders 2 and 3 and concentric with them which cylinder has can engaging vanes 7 and 8 projecting radially inward from it toward the tracks 4 of the inner fixed cylinder 2, and outwardly from it to ward the track 5 of the outer fixed cylinder 3. The rotatable can moving cylinder 6 is supported within the cylinders 2 and 3 by a ring projection 10 from its outer side adjacent the lower end. The underside of this ring projection is turned conical to rest upon correspondingly coned rollers 11, which are rotatable on studs 12 projecting from brackets 13 secured on the outer side of the cylinder 3 and project radially inward through apertures provided for them in that cylinder. These rollers 11 (seelower part of Fig. 3) are provided at suitable intervals apart around the cylinder 3 (see Figs. 1 and and to facilitate adjustment of the vertical axis of the cylinder 6 the stem of each stud 12 by which it is secured in its bracket 13 is eccentric with the axis of the stud (see Fig. 3) and the end of the stem, beyond the nut by which the stud is secured, is squared, as at 15, so that the securing nut may be slaokened and the stem rotated to vertically adjust the supporting rollers by the eccentricity of the stud end.

The can driving cylinder 6 is adjusted and maintained concentric with the track cylinders 2 and 3, (see Fig. 6) by centering rollers 16 arranged at intervals around 6. Eachroller is mounted on a. pin 17 in a jaw member 18, the stem 19 of which is adjustably secured in a bracket 20 by nuts 21. These rollers are disposed, preferably just below the supporting ring 10, to bear on the body of the cylinder 6. i

the end of the cylinder,

The upper side of the support ring 10 has gear teeth 9 projecting upward from it, in 22 which is secured on a shaft 23 rotatable in a bearing bracket 24 secured to the outer side of the cylinder 3 and projecting radially in ward through an aperturein that cylinder. The shaft of this .pinion is driven from any convenient source of power. 10

through an aperture 25 in the lower end of the outer cylinder 3 passing under the lower The cans are delivered along a plate 26 end of the rotatable cylinder 6 and between its radial vanes 7, which are produced below the inner stationary cylinder .2. They are v delivered to the machine by a gravity chute or band conveyor and are passed into engagement with the driving vanes 7 of the inner track 4 by any suitable spacing device 27. By these vanes 7 they are carried slowly I along the inner helical track 4 toward the upper end, the pitchof the track 4 being inclined upward in relation to the direction of rotation of the vane. .To retain the cars on the track 4 and prevent them falling outward through the space between the vanes before they are lifted by the pitch rise of the track within the lower edge of the cylinder 6, a stationary angle iron guard ring 28 is carried around from the place of delivery for about a third of the circumference. This guard ring (see Fig. 4) is preferably supported by brackets 29 from the outer cylinder 3 as aflording greater facility for adjustment during erection of the device. The vertical portion of this guard ring 28 forms a prolongation downward of the cylinder 6 and the horizontally disposed portion forms an outward extension in the width of the track 4, with the pitch of which it coincides.

The can tracks 4 and 5 terminate the full height of a can below the'upper end of the retort, and adjacent the place ofcross-over from the inner track to the outer angle of pitch of each track merges into a short length 30 and 31 which is horizontal. These horizontally disposed portions of each track are increased in width toward one another to as closeas practicable to the thickness of the rotatable cylinder 6, the upper end of which practically coincides with side of the horizontally disposed and laterally widened portions 30, 31. The vanes 7 and 8 of the cylinder 6 terminate just below. the underside of the cross-over 30, 31, (see the upper part of Fig.3 and Fig.7) This termination at the upper end of the rotating cylinder 6 deprives the cans at the upper end of each track of the lateral support afforded to them and to provide the required support a fixed guard ring 35 is secured by brackets 36, to the inner cylinder 2 and outer cylinder 3, in alinement'with the upper end of onto the track 4 of the upper the cylinder 6. This guard ring 35 is inter rupted or has an opening at the cross-over through which opening the cans may-pass from the inner track 4 to the oppositely angled outer track 5.

The cans are directed through this opening in the guard ring 35 at the cross-over by a fence 32 secured to the inner fixed cylinder 2, which fence is forwardly angled tangentially from the circumference of the inner cylinder to the farther end of the aperture in the guard ring 35. This fence 32 is such as will engage the cans about their mid-height and will direct them from the track 4 over its lateral enlargement 30 onto the lateral enlargement 31 of the track 5. A corresponding fence 33 is secured to the outer cylinder 3 which fence is at a higher level auove the cross-over to engage the upper ends of the cans to prevent them toppling over as they pass the junction between the adjacent-edges of the cross-over plates 30 and 31, and the upper end of the can moving cylinder 6 between them.

' As the vanes 7 and 8 of the cylinder 6 by which the cans are moved along the tracks 4 and 5 necessarily terminate below the crossover plates 30 31, their work of moving the cans is performed above the level of these plates by T members 37 having stems 37 which are socketed into corresponding apertures in the upper end of the cylinder 6 and have square necks 37' which fit into corresponding notches 66 in the upper end of the cylinder 6 to maintain the horizontally disposed portion of the T in alinement with the vanes 7 and 8.

In use, the cans are delivered to the retort through the aperture 25 and are passed between the vanes 7 and onto the inner track 4 by the spacer 27. They are carried along the ascending helix of that track to the upper end by the inwardly projecting vanes 7 of the rotating cylinder 6, and when they reach the cross-over their forward move- 'ment is continued by the T members 37 and is directed over the crossover plates 30 31 and onto the outer track 5 by the fence 32. The helix of this outer track 5 being oppositely angled, the same movement of rot-ation, by engagement of the outwardly pros jecting vanes 8, moves the cans slowly along that track toward the lower end of the retort. Adjacent the'lower end of the outer. track 5 an exit aperture is provided at 38 in the outer cylinder 3, and the cans are, directed through this opening by an angled fence 39 which delivers them onto a plate 40 outside, from which they are conducted by a gravity chute or by a conveyer band to I where they are next required.

As, during movement of thecans around '7 the track 4 they are'slowly moving upward, while the rotating cylinder 6 and its vanes 7 and other correlated parts in engagement with them, have no such movement, care must be taken that the inner and engaglng J edges of the lower emds of the vanes 7, the

edge of the vane 8 should be similarly an gled or rounded to prevent the bottoms of the can covers from catching on them during descent on the track 5.

The track supporting cylinders 2 and 3 may only serve the purpose of support for the helical can tracks within a retort or chamber, or may also form the walls of theretort with a top 42 and bottom 43. If these cylinders 2 and 3 are merely track supports they should be freely apertured between the tracks to reduce weight and to afford access for the circulation of the steam or other heat imparting medium among the cans as they travel along the tracks.

here the retort is designed for exhausting the air from or otherwise treating the .cans with moderate heat, the cans may, as

shown in the drawings herewith, be delivered to and from the retort through open apertures with any suitable spacing device at the inlet aperture, but where a process of cooking is conducted that requires a greater heat or is conducted under pressure it will be necessary to pass the cans into and from the retort through a valve of any approved kind that will prevent excessive escape of the heating medium.

Having now particularly described my invention, I hereby declare that what I claim as new and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is:

1. Means for contlnuously moving cans througlra chamber for treatment, said means comprising, the combination with such chamber, of suitably supported concentric oppositely angled helical can tracks disposed on a vertical axis, means for delivering cans from without the chamber onto one end of one of the tracks, means for transferring the cans from' the other end of said track onto the other track, means for delivering the cans from the chamber at the opposite end of the track onto which they were transferred, means for moving the cans along both tracks, said means comprising a cylinder supported on rollers to rotate concentrically between the tracks, said cylinder having can engaging vanes projecting from it toward each track, and means for rotating said cylinder.

. 2. Means for continuously moving cans through a chamber for treatment, said means comprising, the combination with such chamber, of suitably supported concentric oppositely angled helical can tracks disposed on a vertical axis, means for delivering cans from without the chamber onto one end of one of the tracks, means for transferring the cans from the other end of each track onto theother track, means for delivering the cans from the chamber at the opposite end of the track onto which they were transferred, means for moving the cans along both tracks, said means comprising a cylinder supported on rollers to rotate concentrically between the track's, said cylinder having can engaging vanes projecting from it toward each track, said cylinder having also bevel teeth into which mesh those of a pinion secured on a shaft rotatable by a source of power exterior to the chamber.

8. Means for continuously moving cans through a chamber, said means comprisingthe combination with such chamber, of concentric oppositely angled helical can tracks disposed on a vertical axis, means for delivering cans onto one end of one of the tracks, means for transferring the cans from the other end of said track onto the other track, means for delivering the cans from the chamber at the opposite end of the track on which they were transferred, means for moving the cans along both tracks, said means comprising a cylinder adapted to rot-ate concentrically between the tracks, said cylinder having can engaging vanes projecting from it toward each track, rollers supporting said can moving cylinder, said rollers mounted on studs projecting from the outer track support, means for adjusting the height of the rollers, and means for rotating the can moving cylinder.

4. Means for continuously moving cans through a chamber, said means comprising the combination with such chamber, ofconcentric oppositely angled helical can tracks disposed on a vertical axis, means for delivering cans onto one end of one of the tracks,

means for transferring the cans from the other end of said track onto the other track, means for delivering the cans from the chamber at the opposite end of the track on which they were transferred, means for moving the cans along both tracks, said means comprising a cylinder adapted to rotate concentrically between the tracks, said cylinder having can engaging vanes projecting from-it toward each track, rollers supporting said can moving cylinder, said rollers mounted on studs the stems of which are eccentric to the studs, brackets secured to the outer can track support in which brackets the stud stems are mounted, means for rotating the stud stems, and means for secur- 1 ing them in any desired position of rotation. 5. Means for continuously moving cans through a chamber, said means comprising ermg cans onto one end means comprising the lateral 'the combination with such chamber, of concentric oppositely angled helical can tracks disposedon a vertical axis, means for delivof one of the tracks, means for transferring the cans from the other end of said tracks onto the other track,

.means for delivering the cans from the chamber at the opposite end of the track on which they were transferred, means for moving. the cans along both tracks, said means comprising a cylinder adapted to rotate concentrically between the tracks, said cylinder having can engaging vanes projecting from it toward each track, rollers supporting said can moving cylinder, rollers bearing on the outer surface of the cylinder for maintaining it concentric with the can tracks, and means for adjusting said rollers.

6. Means for continuously moving cans through a chamber, said means comprising the combination within a chamber of suitably supported concentric oppositely angled helical can tracks disposed on a vertical axis, means for delivering cans onto the lower end of the inner track, means for guiding cans from the upper end of the inner track to the upper end of the outer track, said widening of each can track toward the other at its upper end forming a cross-over, a ring fence supporting the cans, said fence secured to one of the track supports and circling concentrically between the tracks from the farther side of the cross-over extension of the inner track to the cross-over extension of the outer track, a directing fence angled tangentially from the inner track support to one end of vthe combination within a chamber the ring fence, a guard fence substantially parallel to the directing fence and extending from the other end of the ring fence to the outer can track support, means for moving the cans on both tracks and over the crossover. 1.

7. Means for continuously moving cans through a chamber, said means com irising o suitable supported concentric oppositely angled each can track toward the per end forming a cross-over, a ring fence a one end of the ring fence, stantially parallel to the helical can tracks disposed on a vertical axis, means for dellverlng cans onto the lower end of the inner track, means for guiding cans from the upper end of the inner track means comprising the lateral widening of other, at its upsupporting the cans, said fence secured to one of the track supports and circling con centrically between the tracks from the farther side of the cross-over extension of the inner track to the cross-over extension of the outer track, a directing fence. angled tangentiallyfrom the inner track support to a guard fence subextending from the other end of the, ring directing fence and.

fence to the outer can tracksupport, means for moving the cans on both tracks and over the cross-over, said means comprising a cylindrical frame rotatable between the tracks and extending from the upper level 5 of the cross-over to the full depth of a can above the lower end of the inner track, said frame having can engaging projections from its inner side extending from the underside of the cross-over to below the. lower end of the cylindrical frame and corresponding vanes projecting from its outer side and extending fromthe underside of the cross-over to adjacent the delivery fence, T members corresponding to the can engaging vanes and secured to the upper end of the cylindrical frame to project over the cross-over extensions of both tracks.

8. Means for continuously moving cans through a chamber, comprising the combination with a chamber, concentric track supporting cylinders the axis of which is vertically disposed, helical can tracks projecting toward one another from these cylinders and disposed at opposite angles, said can tracks being laterally extended toward one another at their upper'ends to form a cross-over, a directing fence secured to and projecting tangentially forward from the inner track supporting cylinder towardthe outer can track,'a guard fence parallel thereto, means for delivering cans onto the lower end of the innercan track, means for de livering cans from the lower end of the outer can track, means for moving the cans along both tracks, said means comprising a cylinder rotatably supported between the tracks below the upper side of the crossover, said cylinder having can engaging vanes projecting radially inward toward the inner track and outwardtoward the outer 7 track, T shaped members secured in the up per end of the rotatable cylinder and corre spondingabove the cross-over withthe can ,engaging vanes of that cylinder, a can supporting ring secured to one of the track supporting, cylinders above thev cross-over and following the circle of the rotatable can moving cylinder from the forward end of the directing fence to the after end of the guard fence of the same.

9. Meansfor moving cans continuously, through an. inclosed chamber, comprising the combination with said chamber, of concentric track supporting cylinders on a vertically disposed axis, helical can tracks projecting toward one another from these cylinders at an oppositely angled pitch, the upper end of eachcan track being laterally extended toward the other to form a cross- .over from one track to the other, a directing fence secured to and projecting tangentially forward from the supporting cylinder of theinner track toward the outer track, a' guard fence secured to the outeritrackcylinder 13o substantially parallel to the beforementibned fence, means for delivering cans onto per side of the cross-over to the full height of a can above the lower end of the inner can track, said cylinder having vanes projecting radially inward toward the inner track and outward toward the outer track which vanes terminate below the cross-over at the upper endand the inner vanes produced below the lower end of the cylinder to adjacent the lower end of the inner can track, T shaped members secured in the upper end of the rotatable cylinder the cross members of which Ts correspond above the cross-over with the can engaging vanes of the cylinder, means for supporting the cans on the lower end of the inner track until they are lifted within the can moving cylinder, means above the cross-over for supporting the cans on the upper end of both tracks, and means for rotating the can moving cylinder.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

7 DAVID A. MGINTOSH. Witnesses:

ROWLAND BRITTAIN,.

MAY WHYTE. 

